A Phoenix man was sentenced to life in prison Monday for murdering his girlfriend's 2-year-old son in a 2010 incident at a west Phoenix apartment complex.

Walter Munoz had previously pleaded guilty to the October 2010 murder of Daniel Resendiz, whose mother made statements to police that led to Munoz's arrest.

Court records indicated that the child's mother had previously reported Munoz for abuse before Daniel's death.

Reports also said the mother, Bianca Arce, pleaded guilty to counts of child abuse and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2011.

No one spoke on behalf of Daniel, the 2-year-old victim, but Deputy County Attorney Stephanie Low said the boy's short life with Munoz was, "a living hell."

Munoz's defense attorney, Larry Blieden, claimed his client is not the monster the prosecution made him out to be.

"He's a good person," Blieden said. "He never intended for the child to die."

Munoz stood calmly before Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Reinstein during the hearing in downtown Phoenix on Monday morning and declined to comment during his appearance.

Police said that Munoz told investigators he abused Daniel for several weeks before the child died, and court documents released after the boy's death indicated that his mother had reported Munoz for abuse months earlier when she sought help at a shelter.

Munoz told police he was drunk on Oct. 30, 2010, when he tripped over the boy in an apartment near 82nd Avenue and Indian School Road, according to court records. Munoz then started to bite Daniel and beat the child with his fists until the boy died, according to court records.

When the mother returned home from the store, Munoz pointed out to her that something was wrong with the boy. The mother then grabbed the child and ran across the street to call 911.

Munoz father, Walter Munoz Sr., stood outside the court room with tears in his eyes as he vowed to continue to fight for his son.